Thanks
@Mira_Jade *hugs* The title of your S/A drabbles inspired me to think of this thread title. I was all kinds of stuck LOL

~~~

The moon was shining, the stars twinkling. Sarek could have told her they didn't really. She knew that effect was based strictly on the atmosphere. But her heart was racing, and something brighter than the sun was flaming. Was this love? Was this destiny? Whatever it was, Amanda was all over relieved that he didn't regret his spontaneous gesture of a goodnight kiss after their time out together. That he had done it at all thrilled her. He didn't apologize or try to explain anything away. When she reciprocated, something formed between them, like a sunflower opening and turning to the bright and radiant orb of Sol. A bond ... A warm and gentle connection, not invasive or frightening, although it was most exhilarating. She reached for it eagerly. He enfolded her within the confines of a nascent soul-bond, for all time, and she acceded willingly.

She imagined she could hear the "morning stars of God" shouting in applause.

First off, I loved the title for this - and I am so excited for how one little drabble set is leading to a whole series! I am so excited to follow this journey. Everything was wonderfully expressed and gorgeously told.

Authorly Note: Parts in bold are from "East of the Sun: Friend prompt".

Compassionate Moments

Those first nights, though exhausted, they slept but little.

Instead Nyota curved into Spock, keeping awake in a silent vigil.

He did not close his eyes, and she spent her unwaking hours caressing his back and threading her fingers through his hair - doing anything she could to help with the grief filling his mind.

He was lulled by the sound and feel of her breathing and heartbeat, by the ineffable empathy and love flowing to his mind from hers. He basked in the sensation of her soft hands as well.

That night, his eyes were thoughtful - but not lost in memory.

A smile stole across her face as she understood, feeling the curiosity of his emotions as they rippled across hers.

“I think you are starting to like him,” she whispered.

A heartbeat. “Perhaps,” Spock exhaled. “A very little.”

She laughed. "Your enthusiasm underwhelms me, my heart."

"Considering our inauspicious beginning," Spock objected.

She laughed still more.

Then, Nyota grew thoughtful.

"Seriously, I am impressed. I am happy you two are able to start from scratch, as the saying goes. Not just for work reasons. He's a nerf herder, but he means well. He hasn't had it all easy, from what I've heard around." She frowned in sympathy.

Amanda's last nerve was tweaked to the limit as she watched Sarek's associates flirt with him. They did it, some of them, obviously, others more subtly. They didn't do it as a challenge ... but because they were frankly interested. Not that she blamed them. She and he were just friends, at this stage, although her feelings were deeper. So, she had no "official" claims on his affection or attention. But it bothered her. So the next time she visited him for lunch, she didn't flirt, per se. She just let her warm glance and the soft way her Kentucky drawl drew out his name speak for her. And, let's just say, the next time she showed up for lunch, the lady colleagues with high aspirations had gotten the hint.

Sarek even made so bold as to thank her for her efforts in handling the pests, her words, not his.

"I appreciate you conveying in whatever manner you did, Amanda, that I am not interested in romantic entanglements with any of my colleagues. None of my efforts had thus far proved effective."

Amanda laughed. "They were being purposefully obtuse. It was aggravating me too, to be honest."

His eyes were thoughtful as they gazed at her. He couldn't fathom why it should matter to her what ladies did in their pursuit of him. A telling point, however, was he was beginning to have a strong surmise as to why his female coworkers didn't spark romantic interest.

Perhaps, he was already interested in another certain someone?

+++++

Yup, that's it all right.

@Mira_Jade -- I know you'll like this post, and there's one above, also.

She rolled her eyes with a teasing smirk. "Don't tell anyone, please."

I think that my favourite part about these ficlets is how easily they flow - and the little spots of humor like that are just perfect. That one gave me butterfly feelings like whoa.

And then, the Amanda/Sarek one took the cake for me - I loved seeing this early in their relationship - her ire with the other lady's flirting, and Sarek's 'speculative' look. The 'just before the fall' moments are some of my favourites to read/write, and that one was just perfect.

“It's like she is intentionally provoking me!” Amanda exclaimed hotly. “She wants me perfectly poised and unemotional in public, and then she says something like that.” She made an angry gesture.

Behind her, she felt as Sarek's thoughts turned in disappointment. “She tests you purposefully, Amanda – better you learn such lessons from T'Pau rather than from someone with less noble motivations. Such encounters come with being my wife.”

“What, with being a Vulcan's wife?” Amanda retorted, lashing out in her frustration.

“No,” and hurt sparked in their bond, cooling her own anger as if it never was, “In being the wife of a diplomat.”

Amanda sighed with a silent apology, and the last bit of tension left the set of her shoulders and the texture of their bond.

"I almost could think she wants to humiliate me, and by extension, you. If it was only me, I could deal with it. I suppose I have to take your word for her motivation?"

There was a teasing nuance to that final question.

He laid a hand on her shoulder, lightly. "I believe so." There was an answering bit of appreciative mirth in his tone.

"I never want anyone to make you even start to doubt your choice ..." Amanda began.

"No one has the right or ability to do such a thing." Was the quiet assurance. "I know some of these 'pompous windbags' can irritate you ..."

She laughed outright. They frequently shared many a silent exchange on some of the more interesting personalities. Sarek's sardonic wit was infectious, and it had come as a very wonderful surprise to her the first time.

"But you are always the epitome of graciousness." Sarek finished with admiration.

She smiled gratefully, and her mind wandered to other exchanges across their connection: loving or bantering, with promises of private, tender moments to share later.

It made her heart race with anticipation during many a long round of banquets, talks, or speeches.

I just have such a grin plastered to my face after reading this - what a beautiful way to diffuse a potentially prickly moment. I like how you showed Amanda's underlying reason for being rankled - her relative inexperience and criticisms to her being a bad reflection on him. The subtle humor and mushy cheery on the top just made this wonderful to read.

They had enjoyed a sunset cruise along Puget Sound, danced to live music on shipboard. Then a colleague of Sarek's had introduced him to an elegant, beautiful Vulcan lady named T'Ree. She was a specialist in ancient cultures and their preservation and reconstruction through the visual and linguistic arts.

As he was deep in conversation, Amanda decided to mingle among the other passengers.

Since their betrothal, Amanda was experiencing a deeper sense of poise and sense of sheer gladness, besides feeling very territorial. So it was only natural for her to wonder if he was a bit too engrossed?

As soon as they docked, she and Sarek debarked and left in his air-car.

She maintained a very careful silence on the way back to his place as he talked to her of T'Ree's endeavors.

Not, I hope, she added silently, to the point of rescinding our understanding?

She knew that none in his society would countenance such behavior, nor would he on a purely personal level, but her thoughts weren't exactly charitable ... or even fair at the moment. Because to be honest, T'Ree was quite the kind of lady a person in a high position would find desirable and suitable as a companion/hostess for diplomatic functions.

She did not realize, being quite modest, that she was as well, besides possessing other endearing charms.

He gave her a questioning glance. "Not in the way you obviously mean to infer," He replied. "Nor would I ever likely be, even on longer acquaintance. She is not ... you, after all."

She tried unsuccessfully not to melt. Her lack of success showed in her smile and her glowing eyes.

"Thank you." She murmured.

He drew her close and murmured in her ear: "Would you please stay ...?"

It was the first time he'd asked.

Usually once their dates were over, they'd part ways, since they both had to work the next day, unless it was the weekend, in which case, their evenings would end later.

"As in, for a drink?" She winked.

His hands around her waist tightened. "I was thinking more on the lines of ... breakfast."